Systems and methods for generating prizes and/or bonus game triggers for at least a primary game and a secondary bonus game including combination awards

Abstract

A system and method for operating a game of chance. A gaming system includes one or more game displays, a user interface, at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance and memory in communication with said at least one processor. The game of chance including a two-part game wherein at least one part of the two-part games includes a video reel game to trigger a second bonus game part including a plurality of free games relating to a progressive award. The second bonus game part includes awarding at least one combination award including a progressive cash or credit award and an award of a plurality of free games.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising: a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;
 a user interface configured to:   enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation;   at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance; said at least one processor programmed to:
 add said monetary value to a credit balance for said player; 
 deduct said selected wager from said credit balance; and 
 decrease said credit balance in response to said cash out operation; 
   at least one game display;   memory in communication with said at least one processor; and   wherein said at least one processor runs said executable instructions to: (i) generate and present on said at least one game display, random primary game outcomes; (ii) responsive to one or more primary game outcomes, diminish or increase one or more health values associated with one or more prize blocks mapped on said secondary game display; and (iii) responsive to a bonus progressive prize block health value reaching a threshold value, award a bonus game including at least one combination award including a progressive cash or credit award and a plurality of free games corresponding to said one or more progressive prize blocks reaching a threshold health value.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of combination awards are available. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of combination awards have increasing dollar or credit values based on the probability of obtaining a wining outcome wherein lower probability outcomes have a higher value than outcomes with a higher probability of occurrence. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of combination awards have increasing dollar or credit values and an increasing number of free games awards based on the probability of obtaining a wining outcome wherein lower probability outcomes have a higher value than outcomes with a higher probability of occurrence. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of combination awards include both progressive and nonprogressive cash or credit awards and both a progressive and nonprogressive number of free games. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one combination award has a base starting amount or seed amount which resets following a player win of that award. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one combination award includes a progressive amount which increases in value over time as the total amount of wagers over time occurs. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one combination award includes a plurality of free games that a player wins does not change over time. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one combination award includes a progressive number of free games that a player may win which increases in number over time as the total number and amount of wagers occurs. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one combination award includes a progressive number of free games that a player may win which increases in number over time as the total number and amount of wagers occurs but stops increasing at a predetermined or preprogrammed point. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one combination award that a player may win are in addition to any other nonprogressive award the player may win. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein two or more combination awards are available to be won be a player. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein two or more combination awards are available to be won by a player and may be won simultaneous. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein two or more combination awards are available to be won by a player and may be won consecutively. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the bonus game duration equals the total duration of free games played. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming system comprising: a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;
 a user interface configured to:   enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation;   at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance; said at least one processor programmed to:
 add said monetary value to a credit balance for said player; 
 deduct said selected wager from said credit balance; and 
 decrease said credit balance in response to said cash out operation; 
   at least one game display;   memory in communication with said at least one processor; and   wherein said at least one processor runs said executable instructions to: (i) generate and present on said at least one game display, random primary game outcomes and (ii) responsive to a primary game outcome relating to a progressive award, award a bonus game including at least one combination award including a progressive cash or credit award and a plurality of free games.   
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein a plurality of combination awards are available. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of combination awards have increasing dollar or credit values based on the probability of obtaining a wining outcome wherein lower probability outcomes have a higher value than outcomes with a higher probability of occurrence. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of combination awards have increasing dollar or credit values and an increasing number of free games awards based on the probability of obtaining a wining outcome wherein lower probability outcomes have a higher value than outcomes with a higher probability of occurrence. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of combination awards include both progressive and nonprogressive cash or credit awards and both a progressive and nonprogressive number of free games. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one combination award has a base starting amount or seed amount which resets following a player win of that award. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one combination award includes a progressive amount which increases in value over time as the total amount of wagers over time occurs. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one combination award includes a plurality of free games that a player wins which does not change over time. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one combination award includes a progressive number of free games that a player may win which increases in number over time as the total number and amount of wagers occurs. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one combination award includes a progressive number of free games that a player may win which increases in number over time as the total number and amount of wagers occurs but stops increasing at a predetermined or preprogrammed point. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one combination award that a player may win are in addition to any other nonprogressive award the player may win. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein two or more combination awards are available to be won by a player. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein two or more combination awards are available to be won by a player and may be won simultaneous. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein two or more combination awards are available to be won be a player and may be won consecutively. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming system of  claim 16  wherein the bonus game duration equals the total duration of free game played.